Friends of Northampton man, 20, battling two forms of cancer ‘helping to keep his spirits up’

Zac Forskitt, aged 20, has a tumour on his chest and has also been diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia. Old Northamptonians RFC has gathered behind Zac and his family and we are starting a campaign to support them.

Callum Jones

The father of a 20-year-old from Northampton who has been diagnosed with two forms of cancer says the support he has received from friends and family is helping keep his spirits up during gruelling chemotherapy treatment.

Zac Forskitt, of Abington Vale, found out last month that he had a cancerous tumour on his chest and a rare form of leukaemia.

Zac Forskitt, who is studying journalism at Nottingham Trent University, has been diagnosed with two forms of cancer

Doctors treating Mr Forskitt at Nottingham City Hospital say they can find only one other person in the world who has these two forms of cancer.

Since he was diagnosed, Mr Forskitt’s friends, including members of Old Northamptonians where he plays rugby, have carried out a number of fund-raising events to raise awareness of his condition.

A group of Zac’s friends recently raised more than £6,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support from a sponsored head shave and Twitter and Facebook pages have been set up under the #BacZac name.

Zac’s father Jason said the support was helping the family through an extremely difficult time.

He said: “Zac has received loads of support on social media. He has received messages on Twitter from Russell Crowe and Everton football Club sent him a signed shirt.

“All these things help to put a smile on his face. He is going through a tough time but it is lovely for him knowing that so many people are sending him such lovely messages.”

All fund-raising from the #BacZac campaign will go towards helping the Forskitt family, including his mum Helen and sister Bethan.

Zac’s mum has been living in CLIC sargent accommodation at the hospital Zac is being treated for the past five weeks.